Venture and Explorer Weeks

“All men’s gains are the fruit of venturing.”
–Herodotus

Exhibit Details

Also known as V-Week, Venture Week was started in 2008 at Camp Ware to provide Venture Scouts with an opportunity to try lots of high adventure activities – such as C.O.P.E., Kayaking, Climbing, Caving and Pistol Shooting – as well as some off-the-beaten-track type things like wilderness first aid, graphic design and pottery.

This exhibit also covers some photos from the 1950s Explorer Weeks.

Displays in this Exhibit:

1950s

2008

2009

2012

Memorabilia

1950s

Display Details

Here are some gleeful photos of the Explorer posts having fun at Camp Horseshoe in the 1950s.

This was the advertisement for Explorer Camp that appeared in the April 1952 issue of Trail Blazer:

‘A special Explorer Camp with a real Explorer program will be established outside the main camp area, using tents and featuring hiking, canoeing, camping, cooking and other skills that all add up to “adventure” in a big way. The Explorer Camp will operate for the first two, or perhaps the first four weeks, depending on how fast advance registrations are made* Here is the opportunity Explorers have been waiting for!’

2008

Display Details

2008 was the inaugural year for Venture Week which was held at Camp John H. Ware 3rd.

Raising the Trojan Horse or an Amish barn? Probably not. My guess is the Flying Squirrel, where a team pulls on climbing rope to hoist a person high up into the air at an exhilarating rate.

On Belay, Off Belay are the words of the day as these venturers work on their C.O.P.E. skills.

One last hurdle before getting to the platform.

Staff prep the climbing ropes.

A Scout learns “the ropes” when it comes to preparing for some caving.

Wilderness Survival is one of the programs the V-Week participants could take, with a focus on Wilderness First Aid.

Participants on the computer… in the outdoors.

A V-week participant strolls around Ware on horseback.

Horseback Riding was another one of the high-adventure activities during the V-Week.

Some participants prepare the food for a demonstration.

Preparations are well underway here for the evening’s Hawaiian Luau.

Learning kayaking on the Octoraro, for the bigger rivers to come…

Getting one’s fill with kayaking on the Octoraro.

A bird’s eye view of 1-man and 2-man Kayaking on the Octoraro Creek.

It appears this Scout is trying to use some sort of magnetic force he thinks he has to make a Horseshoe stick to his hand, or he could be using some arcane measuring system. Either way, dinner looks to be almost ready here.

We’re going to assume there’s a pool below. Safety is in an important part of any Scouting activity, especially during high-adventure V-Week.

After a long day of fun… why stop?

You can’t be full throttle adrenaline all the time…

Was someone holding up a mirror? No, photography was one of the options for participants and this candid shows the venturer showing off her SLR skills.

Scouts got an opportunity to use pistols during the V-Week experience.

Ranger Amadeo Solamani taught participants the joys of pottery.

2009

Display Details

The 2009 V-Week was held July 5 – 11, 2009 at Camp John H. Ware 3rd.

The 2009 V-Week Promotional Information.
2009 – Contributed by Jim Bratcher

2012

Display Details

This event included a Mud Run that took place in part at Camp Horseshoe, but not a lot of other details remain.

Memorabilia

Display Details

Here is the only located V-week memorabilia item so far.

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Last updated January 5, 2026